Sawtoothed Grain Beetle

The Sawtoothed Grain Beetle and its look-alike relative, the merchant grain beetle, are slender, flattened, reddish-brown to dark brown beetles that measure about 1/8 inch in length. They exhibit six saw-like teeth along the edge of their shoulder area. These beetles feed on a wide variety of foods. While some come in from outdoors, most come in on purchased food, particularly dry pet food. These beetles can enter a home in large and disturbing numbers to feed on food, such as bird seed or pet food, which mice or other rodents have stored in wall voids. Sawtooth grain beetles are scavengers, unable to penetrate whole grains. They survive by feeding on broken grains’ fragments and detritus. However, they exhibit exceptional climbing abilities, which enable them to ascend smooth surfaces, impacting trapping efficacy and entry points in various environments. A single female can lay up to 250 eggs within cracks of kernels of grain.